Analyst Upgrades

• InterMune (ITMN) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merill.
• Halliburton (HAL), Cloud Peak Energy (CLD), Patriot Coal (PCX) and Consol Energy (CNX) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Post Properties (PPS) to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
• Airgas (ARG) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Hologic (HOLX) to top pick from sector perform and Sunesis Pharma (SNSS) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AEO, ARG, AXP, FISV, HAL, HBAN, HOLX, ITMN, MFE, PXC ...

Analyst Calls: AEO, ARG, AXP, FISV, HAL, HBAN, HOLX, ITMN, MFE, PXC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Financial Times reported on a U.S. investigation that claims that BP (BP) and Halliburton (HAL) knew that the cement used to seal the failed well was unstable.

The lawyers suing BP and Halliburton call this evidence a "game changer" and says it opens up the companies to penalties and court awards running into the billions of dollars.

The case rests on a finding by a U.S. federal panel that the cement used may have caused the fatal explosion on the Deepwater Horizon.

Continue reading BP and Halliburton Face New Charges: Case Rests on Cement

BP and Halliburton Face New Charges: Case Rests on Cement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Macquarie upgraded Intel (INTC) to outperform from neutral and Advanced Micro (AMD) to neutral from underperform.
• Pfizer (PFE) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Capstead Mortgage (CMO) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Halliburton (HAL) to outperform from perform.
• Gilead (GILD) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Skilled Healthcare (SKH) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• Citigroup upgraded CapitalSource (CSE) to buy from hold.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMD, COL, EL, GILD, HAL, INTC, PFE, SLB, SPLS ...

Analyst Calls: AMD, COL, EL, GILD, HAL, INTC, PFE, SLB, SPLS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stocks opened lower this morning before getting a boost from the report that US GDP growth in the third quarter tallied an expected 2%. Then a report on consumer confidence sent the market sharply lower before it rebounded again to positive territory before heading slightly lower again.

On this final trading day of October -- and the 81st anniversary of the crash of 1929 -- stocks are poised to maintain their gains for the month. The DJIA is up about 3% in the month, while the S&P 500 is up 3.7%. The dollar weakened slightly today, down 0.1% against a basket of six other currencies. All eyes are now focused on next Tuesday's elections and Wednesday's meeting of the Fed's open market committee.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Stocks Seesaw on GDP Report (FSLR, PWER, HAL, FMR, VVUS

Closing Bell: Stocks Seesaw on GDP Report (FSLR, PWER, HAL, FMR, VVUS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Raymond James upgraded Research in Motion (RIMM) to outperform from market perform based on valuation. The firm has a $70 price target on the stock.
• Macquarie upgraded Halliburton (HAL) to outperform from neutral and has a $40 price target on the stock. The firm said recent pressure pumping activity is above their expectations and pricing has firmed.
• Canaccord upgraded Baldor Electric (BEZ) to buy from speculative buy, citing improving business trends and the upcoming mandatory transition to premium efficiency motors. The firm has a $47 price target on the stock.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Williams-Sonoma (WSM) to outperform from market perform.
• Medco Health (MHS) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Repsol (REP) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMZN, BCS, BEZ, DOW, FSLR, HAL, HBI, PFE, RIMM, WSM ...

Analyst Calls: AMZN, BCS, BEZ, DOW, FSLR, HAL, HBI, PFE, RIMM, WSM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sunday Funnies: Gov't Can't Clean Up Its Own Act

Sunday Funnies: Gov't Can't Clean Up Its Own Act originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Bernstein upgraded Boeing (BA) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation. The firm also raised its price target to $81 from $80.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Thomas & Betts (TNB) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation and an expected recovery in North American nonresidential construction.
• RBC Capital upgraded Susquehanna (SUSQ) to outperform from sector perform and has a $14 target on the stock. The firm thinks the stock's valuation is attractive as its decline in response to the European debt crisis and financial regulatory reform has been overdone.
• Priceline.com (PCLN) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Genzyme (GENZ) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• RightNow (RNOW) was upgraded to overweight from market weight at Thomas Weisel.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: A, BA, DPS, DVOX, GENZ, GLW, GR, HAL, PCLN, SUSQ, TCRD, TNB ...

Analyst Calls: A, BA, DPS, DVOX, GENZ, GLW, GR, HAL, PCLN, SUSQ, TCRD, TNB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It has been three weeks since a BP (BP) oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, and still the company has not been able to stop oil from spewing into the gulf. Friday, the companies involved got a earful from President Obama.

The three companies involved in the oil spill are BP, Transocean Offshore (RIG) and Halliburton (HAL).

Continue reading Obama Reacts to What He Calls a 'Ridiculous Spectacle'

Obama Reacts to What He Calls a 'Ridiculous Spectacle' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 May 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded Halliburton (HAL) to outperform from market perform as it sees less headline risk from the Gulf of Mexico spill following Wednesday's House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing. The firm upped its target for shares to $44 from $35.
• FBR Capital also upgraded Morgan Stanley (MS) to outperform from market perform as it views the valuation as attractive following the recent pullback in shares. The firm maintains a $35 price target for shares.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Avnet (AVT) to buy from hold on valuation; it views the recent pullback as a buying opportunity. The firm raised its target for shares to $39 from $36.
• U.S. Steel (X) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• News Corp. (NWS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Argus.
• Sprint (S) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AVT, COF, HAL, JACK, LEN, MS, NOK, NWS, S, TEVA, X ...

Analyst Calls: AVT, COF, HAL, JACK, LEN, MS, NOK, NWS, S, TEVA, X ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) strong Q1 results beat earnings expectations, and yet shares sold off.
• American Express Co. (AXP) reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings, which lifted shares.
• Apple Inc. (AAPL) shares rose to a new all-time high after it said earnings surged 90% in its Q2.
• Coca-Cola Co. (KO) beat Q1 earnings estimates but weaker-than-expected revenue sent shares lower.
• eBay Inc. (EBAY) shares sold off after Q1 earnings were in line with expectations and guidance was weak.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Amazon, Apple, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Hershey, IBM ...

Earnings Highlights: Amazon, Apple, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Hershey, IBM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For investors, there wasn't much to get excited by Halliburton's (HAL) first-quarter results. The company, which is the world's number two oil-services provider, saw its earnings plunge 46% to $206 million, or $0.23 per share.

Then again, this was expected as the company still faces challenges (especially in Latin America). But for investors looking beyond the quarter, Halliburton does offer some promise.

Continue reading Halliburton's Earnings Plunge: Looking to Iraq for a Boost

Halliburton's Earnings Plunge: Looking to Iraq for a Boost originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Apple Inc. (AAPL) posted its highest quarterly revenue ever, easily beating estimates, as iPhone sales doubled.
• Boeing Co. (BA) swung to a larger-than-expected Q4 profit but guidance fell short of analysts' estimates.
• Chevron Corp. (CVX) fell short of analysts' earnings estimates for Q4, sending shares lower.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) shares rose after optimistic statements by the CEO ahead of Q2 results.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) shares surged after it beat Q4 expectations by a wide margin and cash flow improved.
• Ford Motor Co. (F) reported its first annual profit in four years due to cost-cutting and improved market share.
• Halliburton Co. (HAL) reported lower Q4 earnings but beat estimates by a penny, and revenue also fell.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Apple, Boeing, Cisco, Ford, Kodak, Microsoft, Yahoo! ...

Earnings Highlights: Apple, Boeing, Cisco, Ford, Kodak, Microsoft, Yahoo! ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Monday morning, Halliburton (HAL) posted lower fourth-quarter earnings that narrowly topped the consensus estimates of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, due in part to increased activity in North America.

Halliburton, one of the world's largest oilfield service providers, said earnings fell more than 46% from a year ago to $0.28 per share, but that beat the First Call consensus by a penny. Revenues fell about 25% from a year ago to $3.69 billion. The consensus estimate was for $3.63 billion.

Continue reading Halliburton's Lower Q4 Profit Beats by a Penny

Halliburton's Lower Q4 Profit Beats by a Penny originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Energy sector expert Elliott Gue turns to Weatherford International (WFT) as his top pick for the coming year.

In his The Energy Strategist, he explains, "As with most oil services firms, Weatherford's North American business has been hit hard and the stock now trades at a deeply discounted valuation."

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Weatherford (WFT)

Top Picks for 2010: Weatherford (WFT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) Q3 results were so-so, and it declined to offer a Q4 outlook.
• Benihana Inc. (BNHNA) was downgraded following its weaker-than-expected Q2 results.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings revenue fell short of estimates.
• Deere & Co. (DE) Q4 earnings easily topped low expectations and its cash flow is strong.
• Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR) strong Q3 numbers topped the Street view and it offered Q4 and full-year guidance.
• Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN) earnings prospects led one analyst to upgrade the stock.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Campbell, Deere, Dollar Tree, Hewlett-Packard, J. Crew, Tiffany ...

Earnings highlights: Campbell, Deere, Dollar Tree, Hewlett-Packard, J. Crew, Tiffany ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Halliburton (HAL - option chain) stock is trading lower after the company said Tuesday that reduced activity by major Mexican customer Petroleos Mexicanos will reduce HAL's Q4 EPS by 2 cents. Analysts previously had expected 0.28 EPS from HAL in the fourth quarter. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on HAL.

Wednesday, HAL opened at $29.95. In early trading, the stock hit a high of $30.05 and a low of $29.30. As of 11:10, HAL was trading at $29.76, down $0.70 (-2.3%). The chart for HAL looks neutral and S&P gives HAL a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Continue reading Halliburton (HAL) warns of weaker Q4 earnings

Halliburton (HAL) warns of weaker Q4 earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) was upgraded at Jefferies to Hold from Underperform following Q3 results. The firm believes the Wavecom acquisition integration is progressing better than expected and finds the valuation attractive at current levels. The firm raised its price target to $10 from $5.
• Boston Properties (NYSE: BXP) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank to reflect the company's recapitalization and better-than-expected occupancy. The firm raised its target to $69 from $46.
• Wyndham (NYSE: WYN) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital after the shares sold off following the company's Q3 results. The firm raised its target to $23 from $15.
• Human Genome (NASDAQ: HGSI) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan. Target was raised to $25 from $14.
• Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ: URBN) was upgraded to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel as they expect a "meaningful sales and earnings improvement in Q4." Target was raised to $39 from $32.
• Methanex (NASDAQ: MEOH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS, citing improved methanol demand following the Q3 report. Target was raised to $19.50 from $17.
• Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD) was upgraded at Raymond to Market Perform from Underperform.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADBE, HAL, GCI, GT, IMAX, URBN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADBE, HAL, GCI, GT, IMAX, URBN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You can tell the oil market's in rough shape when companies are drilling more to pull in smaller profits. This is the situation in which Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) finds itself, with lower energy prices pushing down the cash that comes through the door.

So, its revenue was up for the most recent quarter, but earnings were down. The $262 million that came to the bottom line is 61% lower than the profit for the same quarter the year before.

Continue reading Halliburton earnings plunge 61%

Halliburton earnings plunge 61% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Some big names setting new highs today: STAR, GG, PIR, EBAY

Some big names setting new highs today: STAR, GG, PIR, EBAY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) posted a smaller-than-expected Q2 net loss as steel prices rise.
• Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE: BSX) posted a better-than-expected Q2 profit on strong overseas sales.
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) shares jumped after it beat earnings, missed revenues, and offered guidance.
• DuPont (NYSE: DD) shares declined after it posted a higher-than-expected profit but lower revenue.
• Eaton Corp. (NYSE: ETN) disappointing results were a sign that the bulls are in charge, said Jim Cramer.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) Q2 earnings and sales declined, dragged down by finance and NBC units.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Caterpillar, DuPont, GE, Halliburton, Texas Instruments ...

Earnings highlights: Caterpillar, DuPont, GE, Halliburton, Texas Instruments ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.